CUNY Researchers Identify Glucose Switch Regulating Critical Myelin Development Within the Growing Brain

Researchers at CUNY ASRC discover how glucose levels signal the brain to build myelin, offering new insights into treating multiple sclerosis and birth injuries.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 6:12 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

A Metabolic Compass Guiding Early Neural Architecture

The intricate process of brain development has long left scientists questioning why the protective insulation of nerve cells, known as myelin, forms at varying intervals across different regions. New evidence from the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) suggests the answer lies in the brain's primary energy source: glucose. Researchers have discovered that glucose is far more than mere fuel, it serves as a sophisticated signaling mechanism for oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). These stem-like cells monitor local sugar concentrations to decide whether to continue multiplying or to begin maturing into the specialized cells that produce myelin. This metabolic "choice" fundamentally shapes the wiring of the brain during its most formative stages.

Mapping the Fluctuating Landscape of Brain Glucose

To uncover this relationship, the research team utilized the CUNY ASRC MALDI Imaging Core Facility to create detailed maps of metabolite distribution in developing mouse brains. The findings revealed that glucose levels are not uniform, they fluctuate both spatially across regions and temporally throughout development. Areas saturated with higher glucose concentrations were found to be hotspots for actively dividing progenitor cells. Conversely, regions where glucose levels had dipped were populated by cells that had transitioned into mature, myelin-producing oligodendrocytes. Lead author Sami Sauma notes that this coordinated system allows the brain to precisely time the expansion of its cell pool before committing to the final construction of its essential neural coatings.

The Role of Enzymes in Translating Sugar to Genetic Action

At the molecular level, this metabolic switch is governed by an enzyme called ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY). This enzyme acts as a bridge, converting molecules derived from glucose into acetyl-CoA within the cell nucleus. This byproduct then facilitates chemical modifications to DNA-associated proteins, effectively switching on the genes required for cells to proliferate. When the CUNY team genetically removed ACLY from the progenitor cells in mouse models, the cells lost their ability to multiply effectively, leading to a temporary shortage of myelin. This confirms that the initial growth phase of the brain's wiring system is heavily dependent...